In Matthew 24 we find Jesus and His disciples on the Mount of Olives where the Lord is about to answer the most important question ever asked of Him: WHEN THE END OF THE WORLD WOULD COME WHICH, INVOLVED THE TIME OF HIS RETURN AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE SIGN THAT HIS RETURN WAS FORTHCOMING. Though He did not know when He would return (only God knew), He gave the disciples, and us, THE answer that makes everything else about His return pale by comparison. If we do not heed THE SIGN and react Biblically, His coming will have no effect on our future.

Human beings on all spiritual levels will listen to anyone who proclaims to have “the RIGHT vision” of end-time events. No matter how fanatic, fanciful or unbiblical (even a movie theme) might be a theory being put forward, it will be embraced by some people if it refers to the end of the world. However, almost no one will listen to Jesus Christ when he “speaks” to us in His Holy Word ABOUT HIS OWN RETURN. Recall that the disciples had asked Him about THE SIGN that would alert His followers as to His return? What was His response?

Notice that He did not answer the question directly. There was a reason for not doing so. Question: what could be more important than to know WHEN He would return? Answer: knowing WHAT would take place between that time (31 A.D.) and His return. His answer concerned SPECIFICALLY WHAT CHANGES WOULD TAKE PLACE WITHIN THE CHURCH. His disciples, then and now, need to be warned about that time period and what was to happen on the spiritual front (THE SIGN) as the time for His return approached. As one can plainly see, much has happened–none of it good. I and a few others are trying to warn professing Christendom about that SIGN. We are mostly ignored by the church world that is becoming more and more like the world in general. The main difference now is where people spend a couple of hours on Sunday. Tradition–not God’s Word–is the primary source of the modern church’s guidance. See the home page of this website for proof.

Those who seek to spend eternity with Jesus and His Father in the Kingdom of God must be warned first and foremost about THE SIGN that, if not recognized and dealt with, will make His return irrelevant TO THEM. Only those IN THE CHURCH WHW RECOGNIZE THE SIGN AND REACT TO IT IN A BIBLICAL MANNER will not be deceived by Satan’s wolves in sheep’s clothing. THE SIGN of Christ’s return is RELIGIOUS DECEPTION.

Jesus knew that the vast majority of salvation seekers (“many”) would not be prepared for Satan’s below-the-radar attack on their spirits. Nor would they recognize the “angel of light’s” (Satan’s) counterfeit Christianity that his “ministers of righteousness” (false prophets) would present as the Bible-based Gospel (2 Cor. 11:13-15). Christ’s critical warning was recorded and preserved for some 2000 years for salvation seekers living at the end of the age–the time in which we now find ourselves.

“And Jesus answered and said unto them (and us): ‘Take heed that no MAN deceive you'” (vs 4). Notice that He said “you,” meaning His disciples then and now. He was not talking to and about the world in general, which is already deceived. He is speaking to His followers today as Satan makes his final deceptive push. Knowing that his time is short, the devil (enemy) is making every effort to turn as many true believers away from the Lord as possible (Rev. 12:12). He knows that man will always listen to other men, therefore he uses men, and now women, to deceive church people. Read Who ARE God’s People? and “My People Called by My Name.” Key words–People and Called respectively. Spiritually speaking, all that glitters is not gold. Read the series by that name. Key word–Glitters.

Christ’s Words to the disciples constitutes THE ULTIMATE END-TIME PROPHECY. He is warning about the period leading up to His Second Advent (coming/appearing/apocalypse/revealing). He warns that MANY OF HIS OWN PEOPLE WILL BE DECEIVED. As I have noted in recent series, I believe the primary deception will revolve around Satan’s Sunday Sabbath and an international law that will dictate a global observance of Sunday as the world’s legislated and governmentally-enforced day of rest. With 99.99% of professing Christendom having already observing Satan’s Sunday Sabbath (THE MARK OF THE BEAST), bringing the rest of the world’s people together in “harmony” over it will not be difficult. Pope Francis is hard at work on Satan’s plan. Either he or his successor will succeed, and soon.

Notice carefully what Jesus says to His disciples (then and now) about being deceived: “For MANY (“ministers of righteousness”) will come IN MY NAME saying (admitting) that I (Jesus) am (indeed) the Christ, and (having gained acceptance among the church) will DECEIVE MANY” (of His disciples)–(vs 5). As I noted in the previous posting, these ministers have been so persuasive that God’s Very Elect will be subject to their words. Only the righteous (Very Elect) within the church will be saved, and they will be “FEW” in number (1 Pet. 4:17,18/ Mat. 7:13,14; 22:14). False prophets will be effective because they will declare that Jesus is the Christ. What more does one need to hear? MUCH MORE.

THE SIGN—RELIGIOUS DECEPTION—WILL INVOLVE CHRIST’S MESSAGE. This deadly deception began to take root not long after the founding of God’s church on Passover 31 A.D. and has grown more powerful and pervasive over time. Jesus made it clear that, as the time of His return approached, this warning sign would take on ever more importance. At this time it is the most important warning found in the Holy Bible. The entire New Testament revolves around this warning from Jesus which is: to BEWARE OF PEOPLE WHO WILL TRY TO DECEIVE US ABOUT HIM. Specifically about HIS MESSAGE. Read The Message of the Cross. Key word–Message. L.J.